The National tribune., 1887-06-23
THE GAP AT CHICKAMAUGA,
And How It was Defended by Gen. Steedman's
Men.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: A comrade
recently inquired what battery filled the gap
at Chickamauga on the afternoon of Sept. %
1863. The 9sth, 18th, l2lst Ohio aud 18th
ILL.,. and a 6-gun battery known as the lst
Chicago composed the Second Brigade Of Steed-
mans Division of the Reserve Corps. The hri-
gade was commanded by Col. Mitchell, of the
Il3th Ohio. The command left the Ringgold
road, on the extreme left of the line, some three
or four miles from where the battle was raging,
late in the forenoon, and marched on double
quick 10 the right, in the direction OF the heavy
firing. As we neared the scene We found the
rebel battery that commanded the road we were
marching on and was doing such fearful mis-
chief among our field hospitals. / never wit
messed such unerring skill in throwing solid
Shot aud shell as those artilleTymen displayed.
i don't know whether they meant TO hurt any
of us or not, but they seemed bent on shooting
our caps OF
We did not stop to investigate, but quickened
our doublc-quick pace. The road followed
along the foot of low, wooded ridge. Presently
we moved by the left flank up the ridge, where
we were allowed the pleasure of forming the
acquaintance of some of Longstreets men from
Virginia, sent down TO teach the Western
toughs polite manners. 1t seemed there was a
gap, for we saw no Union troops to oppose the
rebels, who were present in large force. lt
seemed that it would have been simply walk
over for them TO our hospitals aud number
of pieces OF artillery that had been withdrawn
from the line TO keep them from falling into
the enemy's hands. Our battery came up as
soon as the ridge was cleared, and planted its
guns sufficient distance apart TO allow of q
company or two of the 12lst Ohio taking up a
supporting position between the guns. Then
the ball opened i'm earnest. Oar Virginia
friends insisted on teaching us how 10 dance
the Virginia reel, but We would not reel "
worth a cent. We persisted in dancing the
Western "hoedown" 10 the tune =" We won
so home till morning"
From / o'clock till late at night troops never
performed their duty more faithfully. Our 60
rounds Of ammunition were soon exhausted,
and Gen. Granger ordered us 10 give them cold
steel. On went the bayonets, andseveral times
we drove the enemy To the foot of the hill and
into the dark rayine. The last charge we made
was just as the setting sun was throwing his
slanting rays over that blOod-stained field.
| When we were near the foot OF the hill, and but
a few yards from the enemy's line some one
realized the danger 10 our dag, our ranks hay-
ing been decimated by the loss of more than
halt, and began TO sing Rally round the dag.
All within hearing, 10 the number of 10 or ID,
joined in the song and clustered around our
old tattered flag as bees around their queen,
and slowly marched TO the top of the ridge,
where we continued TO send greeting TO the
rebels as we obtained cartridges from the boxes
of our dead and wounded comrades.
When the night of the second day of Chicka-
mauga closed, Gen. Steedman's Division had
left more than half its number either killed or
wounded on the field. The l2lst Ohio went
into the action with PIG, and 81 answered the
next roll-call. Our wounded lay upon the field
for nine days, when they were paroled and sent
through the lines. Our brigade was unbrOken
in the new organization in the Fourteenth
Corps. with the addition of the 18th n. Y.
Zouayes, as noble regiment as ever wore red
caps. We used 10 call them the "Woodpeck-
ers." We formed the Second Brigade, Second
Division Of that Corps.-LERoY MASON, Co
4, l2lst Ohio, Stella, Neb.